PM Vows to Protect Girls From Child Marriage, Discrimination

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that no girl’s dreams are cut short by child marriage, financial hardship, discrimination or insecurity.

“We want no girl’s dreams to be halted by financial constraints, insecurity or discrimination. It is the commitment of the present government to ensure that every girl child gets equal opportunities to develop her potential through education, skills and confidence,” he said.

The Prime Minister made the remarks in a message marking National Girl Child Day 2026, observed this year under the theme “No More Child Marriage, Girls Will Conquer the World”.

He called for renewed efforts to protect the rights and dignity of every girl and build social resistance against child marriage and all forms of discrimination.

Tarique Rahman said the government was pursuing policies and action plans to ensure girls’ education, safety, dignity and future prospects.

He said the state had a responsibility to ensure that every girl could grow up safely and realise her dreams and potential freely, adding that the government was committed to fulfilling that responsibility.

The Prime Minister urged families, society and the state to work together to protect girls’ rights and dignity, expressing confidence that today’s girls would help shape Bangladesh’s future.

He said providing girls with opportunities to develop their talents, creativity and aspirations would help build a more knowledge-based, humane and prosperous country.

Expanding access to education and equipping girls with knowledge, skills and self-confidence were essential to ensuring their safe and independent development, he added.

Recalling former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia’s introduction of free education for girls up to Class XII, Tarique Rahman said the current government had opened opportunities for women to pursue education without tuition fees up to the postgraduate level.

“We want the birth of a girl to become a blessing for every family,” he said, adding that the government was working to build a society where no girl would be denied education and every girl could progress according to her choices and abilities.

He said ensuring proper education, care, rights and opportunities for girls was essential to building a healthy, educated and developed society.

Highlighting the link between women’s political and economic empowerment and the safe upbringing of girls, the Prime Minister said strengthening women’s economic independence was an important step towards achieving these goals.

As part of this approach, Family Cards were being issued in the names of female heads of households, he said. Various initiatives to improve access to education, healthcare, nutrition and social protection for girls and women had also begun, he added.

The government wanted to create a safe environment where every girl could move around, learn, speak and express her opinions without fear, he said.

He stressed that families, society and the state must work together to protect girls’ safety, dignity and rights in both physical and digital spaces.

“By turning girls’ dreams into strength, education into capability and potential into success, we will build the Bangladesh of tomorrow,” he said.

The Prime Minister extended greetings and congratulations to girls across Bangladesh, their guardians and the people of the country on National Girl Child Day.